Tuesday, December 17, 2013

I just finished reading a very thought provoking book, and I
know that it has changed me, somehow.

I can’t define the change yet.It’s hard to put my finger on it, but I feel
different.

The book was fiction, but the story was built on truth—tragic,
terrible truth.A lot of
compelling stories are based on truth.This exact story may not have happened, but similar stories have
happened.I’m sure of it.

I am holding in my heart today the truth that what we read
shapes us, changes us.I am reflecting
on other books that have changed my thinking, changed my behavior, changed my
life.

Some of the books that have changed me have made me angry.Other books have brought me hope dressed in
different clothes, or a new recipe for peace.If a book is going to change me it may challenge my thinking or put a
new twist on what I thought I knew.Maybe it will turn my thinking upside down.

Books may also validate my thinking and give my values shape
and color.I love this kind of change
too.

The book I just read made me angry and also validated my
thinking.There is a new shape and color
to my ideas.It hovers, just out of reach.

This summer, I read for the first time Uncle Tom’s
Cabin.After visiting the Harriet
Beecher Stowe Museum and learning more about how her book shaped public opinion
and helped Lincoln free the slaves, I was curious. How does one create a book with that kind of
power?The Beecher girls were married to preachers. The were the daughters of a preacher. They were expected to let their husbands do the talking. Instead they wrote.

Harriet's book was long and wordy, so different from the books
published today.Instead of a fast food meal, it was a seven
course sit down dinner.It was carefully
crafted to sway public opinion, and it changed the thinking of a nation.

I want to write books like that.Not to be powerful, not to be wordy, but to make a
difference.I love that words have the
power to change people.

The book I just read was The Chosen One by Carol Lynch
Williams.It is a story of modern polygamy
colliding brutally with a thirteen year old girl. She may be fictional, but I will not
soon forget Kyra and her experience.

How has it changed me?I’m still processing this, but I think it has strengthened my core beliefs.It has something to do with the value of an
individual, the price of freedom, and the right to choose.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

“No.Not TV,” she
said.“I mean the world.Was the world in black and white when you
were a little girl?”

I stifled a giggle.I
could see where she was coming from.The
old movies and TV shows we sometimes watch are in black and white.They are old and she knows it.She doesn’t know that it was TV that
changed.She thinks the world changed.

I explained it all, but she looked skeptical.I don’t think she believed me.

Imagine a world that was black and white.Imagine the color washed away.Imagine dull lifeless scenery with no green
and no blue sky.Imagine being
surrounded in flat shades of gray.

Is there anything more exciting that red, or fresher than
green, or richer than gold?

We are considering new carpet for our living room.It is worn in spots, particularly the
stairs.I adore the rich mauve that has
greeted me each morning for more than twenty years.Mauve is hard to come by, just now. It is not in style.Can I bear to say goodbye to fabulous and
settle for neutral?Can I live with ho
hum?

Our couch is getting a facelift.Our floors deserve one too, but it is hard to
say goodbye to my old friend.Will I
miss her?Probably. Can I adjust? Perhaps.

Monday, December 9, 2013

What Agents and Editors want:I was
just going over some of my old conference notes and found this. Thought it
might be interesting today. At the 2009 SCBWI Los Angeles
Conference, editor Courtney Bongiolatti (Simon and Schuster), and agent Dan
Lazar (Writer’s House) shared their views on what they look for in book
openings. It all boils down to five main ingredients:1) Age
Immediately understanding the age of your character helps the agent/editor
to get a feel for your book’s market. Age is often communicated through
voice, therefore it is essential that your voice matches your intended
characters age. Not to mention that the age of your character will
change/effect the story you want to tell, so make sure it is appropriate.2) Voice
Voice will be one of the first things to grab and editor/agents attention.
They are looking for a strong and confident voice that jumps off the
page. Voice can make or break your book so nail it from the start.3) Situation
Start with an undeniable and interesting situation. Don’t begin with a
character waking up and starting their day. Get to the action! A
great example would be to start with an explosion, followed by a kid
falling out of a plane – on page one! Put action and adventure into the first
sentence!4) Tone
You need to know the tone of your book and define it for an agent or editor.
The tone will reveal if your book is commercial or literary. If you open with
an explosion, then you book is probably commercial. Whereas a book with
beautiful descriptions is probably literary. Tone will greatly effect how your
book is perceived by an audience.5) Magic

The magic happens when the
reader is drawn in by character, compelling action, or strong voice.

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